Paint and brush protector



Dec. 11, 1934. v. R. LENT PAINT AND BRUSH PROTECTOR Filed Aug. 13, 1952 VTZLLenZ Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to paint and paint brush protecting means.

An object of this invention is to provide a device which is adapted to be mounted on any con- 5 ventional paint can with the top removed from the can so as to close the top temporarily to prevent drying out of the paint.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paint protector and a brush support whereby the paint within the can will be prevented from drying out and whereby the brush will be supported in a manner within the can so as to prevent drying out of the brush and prevent injury or bending of the bristles of the brush.

A further object of this invention is to provide a protector of this kind which is so constructed that paint will not readily adhere to the surface thereof, thereby eliminating the possibility of the device sticking to the wall of the paint can where some of the paint has been spilled on the outer surface of the can.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of the device mounted on a paint can and having a brush suspended within the can.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substantially through the center of the device removed from the can.

Referring to the drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter C designates generally a can of paint, varnish or the like which has been opened and wherein the cover has not been replaced. In order to prevent drying out of the paint or varnish or other surface protecting means positioned within the can C, and in order to prevent drying out of a brush B, I have provided a paint protecting means and a brush supporting means comprising a cup-shaped member, generally designated as 10, which is constructed of relatively rigid material such as heavy paper or the like.

This cup-shaped member 10 comprises a top engaging plate 11 and a sleeve 12 which is formed with the top by bending the edges of the top 11 and providing a relatively pleated or crimped sleeve 12. The sleeve 12 is removably secured about the periphery of the can C by means of a flexible member 13 which, in the present instance, is constructed in the form of a string,

but it will, of course, be understood that a rubber band or other flexible or elastic member may be used to bind the sleeve 12 about the periphery of the can C.

A second sleeve 14 is mounted on the top plate 11 and is disposed about the marginal edges of an opening 15 through the plate 11, which opening is, in the present instance, substantially in the center of this plate 11. The sleeve 14 is normally positioned in upwardly tapering form and may be pleated or crimped after the manner of the sleeve 12 so as to permit expansion or constriction of the sleeve without injury thereto.

The handle of the brush B is adapted to extend vertically through this sleeve 14 and the sleeve 14 is firmly secured about the handle of the brush B by means of a flexible member 16 in the form of a string, elastic band, or the like. The outer and inner surface of the protector herein disclosed is preferably coated with paraffin 17 so as to water-proof the material from which the protector is constructed and so as to prevent the protector from adhering to any wet paint on the surface of the can C which may dry during the period of time in which the protector is mounted on the can C.

While I have disclosed the protector as being constructed of material such as paper, cardboard or the like having a degree of rigidity and a degree of flexibility, this protector may be constructed out of other material having a similar degree of rigidity and flexibility.

In the use and operation of this protector, the cover for the can C may be left off of the top thereof and the cup-shaped protector 10 mounted over the top of the can with the sleeve 11 extending downwardly from the top and about the periphery of the can C. The handle of the brush B may be projected upwardly through the opening 15 and through the sleeve 14 and the securing band or member 16 tightened about the brush so as to suspend the brush within the liquid in the can C and prevent the lower ends of the bristles from being bent as is the case where the brush is placed in a relatively long can and a cover mounted on the can. The flexible member 13 can then be tightened about the sleeve 12 so as to prevent the drying out of the paint within the can.

If desired, the cup-shaped member 10 can be mounted on the top of the opened can and the sleeve 14 drawn together by means of the string 16 without the brush positioned in this sleeve. In this manner, the paint will be protected without the replacement of the conventional top of the can."

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of 5 construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the cope of the following claim.

1Q What is claimed is:'-' i A paint and brush protecton'comprising a pa- 

